Signal-operating mechanism for gasoline tanks



Sept. 21,1926. 1,600385 s. KANTER SIGNAL OPERATING MECHANISM FOR GASOLINE TANKS Filed May 21,. 1923 fji cz. 16 A5 l 1/ ,/o I

. n WITNESSES MEMO v SKHIVTL'K 4 TTORIIEYS Patented Sept. 21, 1926 UNITED STATES SAMUEL xamrnn, on NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

SIGNAL-OPERATING MECHANISM FOR GASOLINE ranxs.

Application filed May 21,

This invention relatesto improvements in signaling devices for fuel tanks, and has particular reference to an operating mechanism therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism, controlled bythe level of a fluid within the tank, for operating a signal when said level has fallen to a predetermined point. I

Another object is to so construct the mechanism for controlling the signal that the actuation thereof may be effected upon the fluid in the tank reaching diflerent levels.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the following detail description, when taken in connection with the accompanyin drawing, which illustrates a preferred em odiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawin Figure 1 is a ragmenta-ry sectional view of a gasoline tank showing the invention applied thereto and in side elevation; and

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sec tional View through the signal operating mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the numeral 3 indicates a gasoline tank, which may be of any desired construction, such as those employed on motor vehicles, and is provided in the top thereof with an opening, the wall of which is formed by a threaded flange 4.

The signal controlling mechanism, which includes the essential features of the inven tion, consists of a casing 5, made of any desirable material and having a removable closure 6 whereby access may be had to the interior of the casing when desired, Depending from the bottom of the casing is a threaded bushing 7 which is engageable with the flange 4 when the casing is mounted in position on the tank. Also depending from the bottom of the casing 5 and extending through the bushing 7 is a tubular member 8 through which extends a rod 9 having its upper end pivotally connected to one end of a contact supporting member 10. The other end of said member 10 carries a mov able contact 11 which cooperates with a stationary contact 12 suitably supported by and insulated from the cover 6 of the casing 5. The contact 11 is joined to a terminal 13 by means of a flexible conductor 14, while the contact 12 is carried by a terminal 15. Suitable conductors 16 may be connected to the terminals 13 and 15 and also to a signal (not Serial No. 640,399.

shown) which may be either audible or visible and the circuit for which is closed when the contacts 11 and 12, are in engagement. The support 10 is pivotally mounted in a suitable bracket 17 carried by the bottom of the casing 5 and is moved about its pivot as the level of the fluid in the tank 3 rises and falls within a predetermined range.

Attached to the lower end of the tubular member 8 is a guide member 18 in the form of a rod which depends from the tubular member 9, the upper end of the rod being offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tubular member, while the lower portion 19 of said rod is in alignment with said axis and twisted, as indicated in Figure Movable longitudinally of the portion 19 of the guide member is a float consisting of two spherical members 20 joined by a plate 21 having an opening therethrough for receiving said portion 19, the lower end of which is provided with a stop 22 for limiting the downward movement of the float.

A float controlled member including the upper and lower telescoping sections 23 and 24 has its upper section attached to the lower end of the rod 9 and extends coaxially with the tubular member 8 and the portion 19 of the guide member 18. The sections 23 and 24 are provided with aligned slots 25 for receiving the portion 19 in such manner that said float controlled member may freely move longitudinally with respect to the guide member. The lower section 24 may be adjusted longitudinally of the upper section to vary the length of the float controlled member, for a purpose which will presently appear, and said section may be secured in position by a set screw 26 carried by the lower section and engageable wit-h the upper section.

As shown in the drawing, the controlling mechanism is shown in its operated position with the contacts 11 and 12 in engagement to close the circuit for the signal, thus indicating that the fluid in the tank has reached a predetermined low level and needs replenishing, As the tank is being filled the float will rise and force the float controlled member, including the sections 23 and 24, upwardly to rock the contact support 10 about its pivot to disengage the contacts 11 and 12. This upward movement of the float controlled member will continue until the end of the support 10 carrying the contact 11 engages the bottom of the casing 5, whereupon the float and the member controlled thereby will remain at the extremities of their upward movement until the level of the fluid in the tank again falls to permit of a downward movement of the float along the lower portion of the guide member 18. As the float moves downwardly the weight of the float controlled member will cause the same, to gether with the rod 9, to move in the same direction, thus rocking the support about its pivot so as to move the contact 11 toward the contact 12 to again close the circuit for the signal. Should it be de sired to change the point at which the contacts ll and 12 will be brought into engagement so that the signal will be operated at a different predetermined point in the level of the fluid within the tank, the section 2% of the float controlled member may be adjusted longitudinally of the section 23 to vary the length of said member. Thus, if the length of the member is increased, it will be obvious that with the contacts 11 and 12 in their normally separated positions said contacts will not be broughtinto engagement until the level of the fluid in the tank has fallen below that indicated in the draw ing. Likewise, a shortening of the length of the float controlled member will cause engagement of said contacts before the level of the fluid has reached that indicated in the drawing.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In a signal controlling mechanism for gasoline tanks, a casing supported by said tank, stationary and movable contacts in said casing, a movable support for the movable contacts operable to move said contact with respect to said stationary contact, a float controlled member for operating said support and including telescoping sections, one of which is adjustable relative to the other to vary the length of said member, a guide member *arried by said casing and having a portion thereof extending through and longitudinally of the telescoping sections of said float controlled member, and a float movable when the fluid in said tank reaches a predetermined level and moves said float controlled member longitudinally to actuate said support, whereby said contacts are engaged.

2. In a signal controlling mechanism for gasoline tanks, a casing carried by said tank and having a tubular member extending into said tank, a stationary contact carried by said casing, a support pivotally mounted in said casing and carrying a movable contact cooperating with said stationary contact, a rod connected to said supportand extending through said tubular member, a float controlled member carricd by said rod and having a tubular portion, a guide carried by said tubular member and having a portion thereof in axial alignment with said guide, said portion of said rod extending through and longitudinally of the tubular portion of said float controlled member, and a float supported by said member and movable longitudinally thereof to impart a similar movement to said float controlled member and rod, whereby said support is actuated to engage said contacts.

SAMUEL KANTER. 

